'In Beauty we are united

Through Beauty we pray

With Beauty we conquer.'

Thus was the philosophy of the manysided genius, Professor Nicholas Roerich, whose varied and prolific creative activities earned him an international reputation in a number of fields.

A master-artist, scientist, educator, philosopher, writer, designer, poet, humanitarian, explorer, Roerich was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on 9th October, 1874, and was educated at the University of St. Petersburg, where he attended several faculties simultaneously. Later he continued his studies of Art abroad. After a brilliant academic career abroad, he came to India in 1924, where he led a 5 year artistic/scientific expedition through the mountainous regions of Central Asia. In 1928 he settled in the Kulu valley in the Himalayas where he lived the rest of his life.

Roerich achieved recognition and fame very early in life and was entrusted with some very important assignments when he was quite young. His creative output as an artist was enormous; he painted some 7000 paintings besides many murals and designed outstanding mosaics for churches and public buildings in Russia.

He was also a prolific writer and wrote many books and innumerable articles, essays on Art, Culture, Archaeology and Philosophic subjects. His published works comprise some 30 volumes, which include his Poems and Plays.

A great cultural leader and worker for world peace, Roerich stressed that beauty and knowledge would unite humanity. He was the founder and inspirer of cultural institutions and societies in many countries. He worked for peace and better international understanding and one of his outstanding contributions to World Peace was his International Pact for the protection of Art Treasures and Educational and Scientific Institutions in times of war and civil commotions.

His humanitarian work was greatly assisted by his wife, Helena, and their two sons, George - a scientist and distinguished orientalist - and Svetoslav, the gifted artist.

Prof. Roerich travelled all over the world and led extensive expeditions to Central Asia, Mongolia and Tibet. He organised the ethnological, linguistic as well as botanical and zoological survey of some of the Western Himalayan Regions. He was honoured by many countries and was Fellow of various academies and numerous educational, scientific and cultural bodies throughout the world. His paintings are the prized possession of leading Museums and collection all over the globe.

A friend of Nehru, Radhakrishnan and Tagore, Roerich loved India and its people as he loved his own. He enshrined that love and the spirit of India in his many glorious paintings of the Himalayas, which earned him the reputation, 'Master of the Mountains'. Roerich died in Naggar, Kulu on 13th December, 1947.

The Posts and Telegraphs Department deems it a privilege to commemorate the birth centenary of Prof. Roerich by the issue of a postage stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India